How To Handle A Career Change

You may have carved yourself out a successful career doing what you’re good at. You may earn enough money to cover the bills and live comfortably. You may be the envy of your friends who see your success, career and lifestyle and wish they had your role. However, we often forget that we spend a huge part of our life at work and we need to make sure that we are content doing so.

A recent survey (September 2018) commissioned by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) found that the average Brit will spend 3,507 days at work including 204 days of overtime in their lifetime. That’s a lot of time to spend doing something that doesn’t push your buttons. The same survey also found that the average worker in the UK considers changing their job a whopping 16 times per year!

So, does this sound familiar? Maybe it’s not even as positive as we mentioned above. Maybe your job sadly makes you miserable and unhappy. Maybe it’s time to find a new goal and career?

Where do you even begin? We would suggest looking at things practically. Work out your current situation; finances, benefits, experience and support network. Is a career change practical at this point in your life? If not, maybe you could look into extra studying you could fit around your current role to make sure that you are better prepared or may well go into your change of career at a higher level.

If it’s not practically feasible to move due to various commitments – look back and question this: is it the career itself, or the employer? If you’re experienced in your current career, you may find that a similar employer would offer you a role perhaps with a better salary, hours or benefits. Or perhaps just a change of employer would help?

If you decide that you can afford a career change and you can move without burdening yourself too much, it’s time to think carefully. This is a big move, it could (and hopefully will) change the rest of your working life for the better!

Think about what you really want to do. Don’t over-glamourise the role, remember to still think of it as a career. There are very few people who jump out of bed every morning and skip into work! But there are those who really enjoy their role and thrive at the challenges it brings.

Does your new career require training, qualifications or a bit more background knowledge? Is this something you could dedicate time to after work to proactively boost your chances? Do you know somebody who is already in this career? If you do, perhaps they would meet with you to give you the full account of the role – perhaps even let you shadow them doing their job. This would give you a real insight into the job and not, potentially, a romanticised version of the career you have in your head. It may, however, show to you that this is exactly the career for you!

One key thing to remember in the whole situation is that making a career change isn’t an easy task. If it was, we’d all be doing it on a yearly basis! It takes dedication, determination and support.

You need dedication and determination – we can help with the support. We’re experts in changing careers due primarily to first-hand experience. We’ve seen the highs and the lows, and we’ve come out of the other side smiling! Our MD, Rob, worked in different recruitment agencies as a manager before taking the plunge and setting up Glu. Three of our recruitment consultants, Lisa, Charlotte and Selena, had all forged great careers in DIY retail before joining us and keeping us organised and on our toes.

The fact is, we’ve been there and we get it. We are here to guide you through a career change and ensure that we leave no stone left unturned. One of the best bits of advice is to build networks with potential new employers so that you’re not ‘just a CV’. Well, luckily we have that covered. If you’re enthusiastic and we want to work with you – we will help to build those networks for you.

Take a week of serious thinking. Don’t let the small negatives at work push you into any rash decision. If, at the end of the week, you’re still sure you want a career change, then discuss it with somebody you trust. Discuss the potentials of financial implications, location changes, routine differences. Think about what’s right for you.

That’s probably the best advice of the whole blog, so we will say it again: Think about what’s right for you.

As one of Glu’s Recruitment Consultants, my focus is on placing high calibre temporary, permanent and contract staff with employers across Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Hometown: Barnsley

Favouritefood: Pizza

Favouritething to do: Watching the super reds (Barnsley FC)

Favourite holiday destination: Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Favourite film: Wayne’s World

Favourite thing about our city: Bradfield Brewery

Describe yourself in 3 words: Loyal, Hardworking and Outgoing

Name: Rob Shaw

Role: Managing Director

Rob is the business owner and leads the team on the good ship Glu Recruit. He has over a decade of recruitment experience and has worked for a large national as well as a smaller independent agency in that time. Rob is a perfectionist and values relationships as well as hard graft and banter.

More about Rob!

Hometown: Rotherham

Favourite food: Pizza

Favourite thing to do: Holidays and spending time with my kids

Favourite holiday destination: Greece

Favourite film: Anything from my Disney collection

Favourite thing about our city: The folk

Describe yourself in 3 words: Passionate, Hard-working & Dedicated

Name: Helena Butterworth

Role: Recruitment Administrator

Helena joined Glu Recruit in 2019 as our Recruitment Administrator. Helena is the first voice you will hear when you call in to the office, and is the one who keeps everyone organised and on the straight and narrow!

More about Helena!

Hometown: Barnsley

Favourite food: Peanut Butter

Favourite thing to do: Drinking cocktails with friends

Favourite holiday destination: Jamaica

Favourite film: White Chicks or Step Brothers

Favourite thing about our city: Night life

Describe yourself in 3 words: Hardworking, Sociable & Positive

Name: Brendan Hall

Role: Marketing Consultant

Brendan has been working with Glu as their marketing consultant since early 2018. He manages Glu’s marketing and communication campaigns making sure the brand is always out there and in the right places! With a keen eye for detail, Brendan enjoys getting involved in the creative aspects of the role.

More about Brendan!

Hometown: Rotherham

Favourite food: Sunday Roast

Favourite thing to do: Watching the Mighty Blades

Favourite holiday destination: Cornwall

Favourite film: A Clockwork Orange

Favourite thing about our city: Corp!

Describe yourself in 3 words: Thoughtful, Committed & Loyal

Name: Claire Foster

Role: Recruitment Co-ordinator

Claire joined in 2018 initially in a temporary position before joining full time as a Recruitment Co-ordinator. She works with employers and job seekers to find their perfect match.

Hometown: Rotherham

Favouritefood: Chocolate!

Favouritething to do: Anything creative especially jewellery designing and making

Favourite holiday destination: Las Vegas

Favourite film: Con Air

Favourite thing about our city: Theatres

Describe yourself in 3 words: Caring, Motherley & Creative

Name: Lisa Brunt

Role: Recruitment Co-ordinator

Lisa joined Glu in 2016 as our first member of staff and is our Senior Recruitment Co-ordinator. She works with employers and job seekers to find their perfect match. Outside of this she is the office mum who looks after us all and makes a cracking brew.

More about Lisa!

Hometown: Sheffield

Favouritefood: Too many to name! But if it was my last meal on earth it would be a meat & tatty pie!

Favouritething to do: Chill in my pj’s with a cuppa

Favourite holiday destination: Cyprus

Favourite film: Dirty Dancing of course!

Favourite thing about our city: Arctic Monkeys

Describe yourself in 3 words: Caring, genuine & considerate

Name: Charlotte Pike

Role: Recruitment Co-ordinator

Charlotte has been with Glu since 2017 and has worked her way up to the position of Recruitment Co-ordinator and works with employers and job seekers to find their perfect match.

More about Charlotte!

Hometown: Sheffield

Favourite food: Hot and spicy curry

Favourite thing to do: Going on holiday

Favourite holiday destination: Lanzarote, Puerto Del Carmen

Favourite film: She’s the man

Favourite thing about our city: Hendo’s

Describe yourself in 3 words: Outgoing, friendly & organised

Name: Charlotte Pike

Role: Recruitment Co-ordinator

Charlotte has been with Glu since 2017 and has worked her way up to the position of Recruitment Co-ordinator and works with employers and job seekers to find their perfect match.

More about Charlotte!

Hometown: Sheffield

Favourite food: Hot and spicy curry

Favourite thing to do: Going on holiday

Favourite holiday destination: Lanzarote, Puerto Del Carmen

Favourite film: She’s the man

Favourite thing about our city: Hendo’s

Describe yourself in 3 words: Outgoing, friendly & organised

Name: Lisa Betsworth

Role: Head of Client Partnerships

Lisa is in charge of all things sales and client development. Having spent too long to mention in the industry Lisa has worked in both national and independent agency’s as well as setting up her own. Lisa is driven by quality and loves nothing more than building relationships with her clients but having a laugh with them along the way

More about Lisa!

Hometown: Whitwell

Favourite food: Sushi

Favourite thing to do: Travel

Favourite holiday destination: Cuba

Favourite film: Greatest Showman or Saw Films

Favourite thing about our city: Henderson Relish

Describe yourself in 3 words: Ambitious, Fun Loving, Loyal

Name: Lisa Brunt

Role: Recruitment Co-ordinator

Lisa is our Recruitment Co-ordinator and works with employers and job seekers to find their perfect match. Outside of this she is the office mum who looks after us all and makes a cracking brew.

More about Lisa!

Hometown: Sheffield

Favouritefood: Too many to name! But if it was my last meal on earth it would be a meat & tatty pie!

Favouritething to do: Chill in my pj’s with a cuppa

Favourite holiday destination: Cyprus

Favourite film: Dirty Dancing of course!

Favourite thing about our city: Arctic Monkeys

Describe yourself in 3 words: Caring, genuine & considerate

Name: Rob Shaw

Role: Managing Director

Rob is the business owner and leads the team on the good ship Glu Recruit. He has over a decade of recruitment experience and has worked for a large national as well as a smaller independent agency in that time. Rob is a perfectionist and values relationships as well as hard graft and banter.